Cited by 1,064Neurobiology and Insect Physiology ResearchPancreatic function and diabetesMetabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer

Ablation of Insulin-Producing Neurons in Flies: Growth and Diabetic Phenotypes

Rulifson, Eric J., Kim, Seung K., Nusse, Roel·2002·Science

Abstract

In the fruit fly Drosophila , four insulin genes are coexpressed in small clusters of cells [insulin-producing cells (IPCs)] in the brain. Here, we show that ablation of these IPCs causes developmental delay, growth retardation, and elevated carbohydrate levels in larval hemolymph. All of the defects were reversed by ectopic expression of a Drosophila insulin transgene. On the basis of these functional data and the observation that IPCs release insulin into the circulatory system, we conclude that brain IPCs are the main systemic supply of insulin during larval growth. We propose that IPCs and pancreatic islet β cells are functionally analogous and may have evolved from a common ancestral insulin-producing neuron. Interestingly, the phenotype of flies lacking IPCs includes certain features of diabetes mellitus.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.1070058

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13 of 13 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The nervous system affects growth and regeneration.

    “Growth and regeneration are also influenced by the nervous system [84,85].”

    From An option space for early neural evolution (2015) · cites this paper as [85]

  • Insulin-like peptides likely have ancient internal-coordination roles in growth and physiology.

    “have probably ancient IC roles in the regulation of growth, as well as physiology (see above) [85,87].”

    From An option space for early neural evolution (2015) · cites this paper as [85]

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Authors
Rulifson, E. J., Kim, S. K., & Nusse, R.
Affiliations
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
  • Department of Developmental Biology,
Corresponding author
Rulifson, Eric J.
Venue
Science
Published
2002-05-10
Volume
296
Issue
5570
Pages
1118-1120
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W1987942547
Cited by
1,064
References
13
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 57 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 66 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 56 · 2014: 61 · 2013: 63 · 2012: 45
FWCI
11.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Pancreatic function and diabetes
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
Keywords
insulin, Drosophila, neuronal ablation, larval growth, developmental delay, hemolymph glucose, pancreatic beta cells, diabetes mellitus
MeSH terms
Animals, Blood Glucose, Brain, Cell Count, Diabetes Mellitus, Drosophila, Heart, Hemolymph, Insect Hormones, Insulin, Larva, Myocardium, Neurons, Neurosecretory Systems, Oligopeptides, Phenotype, Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid, RNA, Messenger, Trehalose, Wings, Animal, Gene Expression, Transgenes, Drosophila Proteins, Animals, Genetically Modified, Cell Size

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